Woodworking machine



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,117

E. G. ASHLEY WOODWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan.- 8, 1929. I 1,698,117

E. (5. ASHLEY WOODWGRKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vice.

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

EARL e. ASHLEY, 0E MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASsIGNoR To NICKEY BROTHERS,

0E MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

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wooEwoEKINe MAcHiNE.

Application filed February 27, 1928. I Serial No. 257,218.

This invention has to do with woodworking machines, and is particularly concerned with an improvement in a machine for making the blanks from which battery separator plates are made.

In making such blanks, blocks of wood are fed to a saw, and thin sheets are cut from the blocks, which Sheets constitute the blanks. Heretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in holding the work during the sawing operation, and it is such difiicultyv that this invention is designed to overcome.

Theprimary object of the invention is to provide a novel suction device for holding the work against a guide while the work is being moved along the guide and is being acted upon by a saw or some other implement.

1 While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other objects and advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and operation of the suction de- One form of the invention is presented herein for the purpose of exemplification, but it will of course be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other structurally modified forms coming equally within the comprehensive scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a machine for making the blanks, which machine is equipped with the suction device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of that part of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of that part of the machine shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a blank produced by the machine shown in the other views.

As will be observed, the machine includes a bed 10, a vertical guide fence 11 along one side of the bed, a vertical band saw 12 in spaced parallel relation to the fence, a feed roll 13 in advance of the saw, and an idler roll 14 between the feed roll and the saw.

The blanks 15 are cut by the saw from 25 on the, base.

saw by the feed roll. As the blocks, in moving along the fence, leave the idler roll and are cut intoby thesaw, they are held snugly against the fence by a suction device which constitutes the subject matter of this invention.

.. The suction device is incorporated in the fence, and includes several openings 17 in the fence, a hood 18 on the back of the fence enclosing the openings, and a conduit 19 whichleads from the hood to an exhaust fan or to any other suction-creating means. 1

As the blocks are fed along that portion of the fence containing the openings, the suction in the hood acts through the openings against the blanks being out from the blocks and holds the blanks snugly against the fence, whereby to prevent them frommoving toward the saw and varying the thickness of out. When the machine is in operation, the. openings in the fence are entirely covered by the Work, since each block. is fed along the fence'by the next succeeding block, and the blocks are so shaped as to leave no gaps there- INC, v

journaled in a lug 23 on the frame of the machine andcarries a lead screw24 which 00- operates with a threaded aperture in a lug The extent to which the fence is moved through operation of the hand wheelis accurately indicated by a micrometer hand 26 on a scale 27. The scale is formed on a bracket 28 which is secured to the base, and the hand is pivoted at 29 to one of the guides for the base and has a pin-and-slot connection 30 with the base adjacent such pivot.

The fence is pivoted to the base at 31 in order to permit the front plane of the fence to be tilted slightly one way or the other in I making an adjustment of the same withrespect to the plane of the saw. Such an adjustment is made by varying the point of coaction between a lead screw 32 which extends vertically from the base and an ear 33 which fits over the screw and is formed on the end of an arm 34 which extends rearwardly from the fence. After the desired adjustment has been made by means of nuts 35 on the screw above and below the ear 33, the fence is secured rigldly to the base by means of clamps 36.

I claim: I

1. In a woodworking machine, aguide, a woodworkingimplementinspaced relation to the guide, means for feeding the work along parallel relation to the fence, and means for feeding the work along the fence to thesaw.

3. In a Woodworking machine for making blanks for battery separator plates, a vertical suction fence, a vertical saw in spaced parallel relation to the fence, a feed roll in advance of the saw for feeding the work along the fence to the saw, and an idler roll between the feed roll and the saw for holding the work against the fence as it approaches the saw.

4c. In a woodworking machine for making blanks for battery separator plates, a bot tom guide, a side guide, a saw in spaced parallel relation to the side guide, means for feeding the work along both guides to the saw, and suction means associated with the side guide for holding the work thereagainst while being acted upon by the saw.

5. In a woodworking machine for making blanks for battery separator plates, a fence provided with openings in a portion of the same, a suction line connected with the openblanks for battery separator plates, a fence,

a suction line in communication with the fence a saw in s Jaced aarallel relation to the 7 fence means for feedin the work alonmthe a b I a: fence to the saw, and means 1.01 moving the fence and suction line as a unit transversely of the machine.

7.'In a woodworking machlne for making blanks for battery separator plates, a fence, a

suction line in'communication with the fence, a saw in spaced parallel relatlon to the fence,

- means for feeding the work along the fence to the saw, means for moving the fence and suction line as a unit transversely of the machine and means for tilting the fence andsuction line as a unit with respect to'the saw.

8. In a woodworking machine, a surface 7 along which the work is moved, a woodworkimplement in spaced relationto said surface, mcans for feeding the work along the surface to the implement, and suctions means associated with the surface for holding the work thereagainst while being acted upon by the implement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EARL e. ASHLEY. 

